Ibrahimovic’s contract was cancelled this week by United, paving the way for his move to Los AngelesMartin Rickett/PA

LA Galaxy revealed today that they used David Beckham as part of their successful attempt to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Manchester United.

Galaxy announced the signing of Ibrahimovic this afternoon in a blaze of publicity. The MLS franchise first posted a 21-second promotional video of the Swedish striker walking towards the camera, with shots of a growling lion cut into the sequence. At the end of the video, in which strobe lighting appears in the background, the charismatic striker says: “Los Angeles, welcome to Zlatan.”

Beckham and Ibrahimovic played together at Paris Saint-GermainGUILLAUME HORCAJUELO/EPA

Half an hour after the promotional video was released, no fewer than ten Ibrahimovic stories had been published on the franchise’s website about their new star signing.